High speed steam power plant and method of operating said power plant



Oct. 7, 1941. w n. LA MONT 2,257,749

HIGH SPEED STEAK `POWER AND METHOD ADF OPERATING. SAID POWER PLANT Original Filed Ont. l5, K1935 ZYSheetS-Sheeb 2 ATroVEYf y Patented Oct. 7, 1941 HIGH SPEED STEAM POWER PLANT AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAID POWER PLANT Walter Douglas vLa Mont, nNorth colebrook, Conn., assigner to W. D. Iza Mont Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Original application OctoberlG, 1933, Serial No.

1934, Serial No. 729,162 l V 10 Claims. (Cl. 122-4511) This invention relates to highv speed steam power producing apparatus and high speed methods of operating the same.

This application is a true divisional application fromA application Ser.v No. 693,714, filed October 16, 1933.

It deals with supercharged steam boilers in combination with high speed, light weight power plants using such a boiler, especially a boiler burning uid fuels, in which all fluids; namely, the fuel, the air (for supporting combustion), and the main workingiiuid in4 the tubes of the boiler,l each flow at extremely high velocities in the performance of their several duties in the boiler and then in the power plant as a whole.

The present invention is primarily concerned with the correlation of water circulating through the economizer `tubes with the heat conditions of the steam generator so that at no time is there any danger of these tubes being damaged by the failure of circulation of water therethrough, as for example, when the source of feed water'may be shut off.

This present invention is particularly conf cerned with the improvement of high speed :steam boilers and power plants embodying the same and methods of operating said boilers and said power plants. Where my invention and/or any of its features, applies to ash boilers or mass boiling boilers and to high speed power plants using said flash boilers or mass boiling boilers, such improvements are well within the scope of my invention as herein described.

While my invention is described .herein as relating to steam generating apparatus and is intended especially for the generation of steam from water, it will be understood that the terms steam and water as used in the specifications and claims as intended to includeV as equivalents, any liquids whichmight be handled by the novel process and/or apparatus herein described, resulting in the generation of any vapors which might be handled by, or be'useful various auxiliaries and controls.

Divided and this application June 5,

power plant, in accordance with the present invention, with a cross-sectional view of the high speed steam generator forming apart thereof; and 2 is a diagrammatic layout of the supercharged high speed steam boiler and power unit4 operated in a manner similar to the arrangement shown in Figure l, but'with the additional showings of how the fluid heater may be operated with various connections, inf cluding the use of a separate circulating pump for the uid heater. y The high speed boiler` l includes waterwall coils 34, superheater coils 5I, fluid heater coils 53, air-preheater with air preheater tubes 65, casings, streamlined passages for gas and air, burner 2 and necessary pipe connections to water level cylinder 8 and to the The main `turbine I0 is shown with its exhaust lead IDA and main condenser I I.

The auxillary turbine 6 is shown drivingon one shaft theV boiler circulating pump 26, condensate pump I6; feed pump l1, air supercharger 5 and oil pump 2l. The connections of these auxiliaries are shown with their various control valves and by-passes. y

The master combustion control apparatus l0 is shown with its moving arm 1I and moving in connection with my process and/or apparatus,

and it will also be understood that many of the -novel features of this invention are applicable in other fields than that for which the apparatus herein specifically illustrated and described is .particularly intended.

Other objects and features will be particularly control rodi! and connections to the various control valves.

The water revel regulator :'4 is shown with its control element 24A control vvalve I9 and interconnection withcontrol valve 16.

The thermostat control is shown with its control element 'Il on the fluid heater tube 53 and its control valve 15.

The feed tank and oil tank are shown with their various connections, valves and control features. These elements are described in detail below. Y

In Fig. 2, the diagrammatic view of my steam generator is represented by `a waterwall tube coil Il, and a fluid heater tube coil 53, with an indicated part of the casing together with the burner 2. The connections of the water wall tube 3|, fluid heater tube 53, and burner 2, are shown with 4their various valves and control features.

The water level cylinder 8 and fluid heater water reservoir 84 are shown with their connections, valves, and control features. The main turbine I0, is shown with lts exhaust lead IBA, and main condenser Il. The auxiliary turbine 8, is shown driving on one shaft vair supercharger `5, circulating pump 26, of thefsteam general-m',` feed oil p ump 21, condensate pump I6,

and feed pump I1. The connections of -these auxiliaries are shown with their various control -valves and by-passes.

The separate circulating pump 60, for the uid heater is shown with its auxiliaryturbine 24A and control valve I9. The thermostat control is shown` with its control element l1 on the fluid heater tube 53 and its control valve 15. The feed tank and oil vtank are shown with their various connections, valves and control features. l

I have found that, owing to the very high initial temperatures and very high gas velocities with resulting very rapid'rate of heat transfer of the convention surfaces in my supercharged 'high speed steam generators, the present day economizer is not satisfactory for use with certain Atypes of my steam generators.

In the customary economizer the total quantity of Water available for forced circulation is that of thefeed water. only. This quantity of i feed water 'available for forced circulation at any time is generally more a question of the height of the water-level lrather than the rate of evaporation, In operation of the economizer, the water level might be high and the feed water shut oil' orthe feed input considerably reduced at a time of increase in heat load.

With a high water level'at a time'of sudden change to'high heat load, the feed may 'be shut off entirely or it may be feedingthe econcmizer tubes at a very low rate of input, for a con- -siderable period of time. n

This condition wherein present day economizers, at times, do not permit the cgi-ordinating of the amount of Water used in the forced cir,- culation with pressure drop devices in the tubes vregardless of the Water level in the steam genera# tor; to meet the rate of heat released, imposed on said tubes; kmakes the present day economizer unsatisfactory -for use with certain types of my supercharged high speedsteam generators.

4 Fluid heater I havefound that a newrtype of fluid-heater is required in place of the present day economizer used with steam generating apparatus.

My new uid heater will at all times permitI the leo-ordination of the amount of water used in forced circulation with kthe pressure drop devices used in the tubes of said heater, irrespective of the height lof the'water level, so that proper pressure drop to insure positive delivery of water into each tube can be obtained together with the required quantity of water circulated to insure proper operation of each tube at allV able to protect or insure proper operation of. said surface.

The tubes of said new type ofheater, to meet all necessary conditions of proper operations of the steam generating apparatus with its required quantity of water for forced circulation, vwillat times require feed water only, at other times said vtubes will require feed water augmented by additional water from another source or augmented by recirculation of thefeed water in the tubes.

and at still other times the total quantity of water used in said tubes will be that of water from another source or of feed water recirculated without any input of new feed Water.

The tubes of said heating surface of this new type of fluid heater, at various times .during the operation of a steam generating apparatuswith which said surface may be used, may be heating water only, or may be heating water and vapour or water and steam. Said surface may or may not generate st eam, and irrespective ofwhether or notA said surface generates steam said surface may or may not be using feedwater only;y may or may not be using input of feed Water to-l gether with `its recirculation water ,or with circulation of additional water from another source, and it may or may not use circulation of water from another source or recirculation of its water without any new input ofA make up feed water.

If the feed water is used in recirculation, it canY n o longer be properly referred t0 as feed Water, any more than the water in the remaining portions of the steam generator is properly or gen erally referred-to as feed water. v

Since this new type of heater at various times may-or may not generate steam and may or may not be using incoming fee'd water only, -or incoming feed water in combination with other water, it is not strictly a steam generator or a feed heater. As a result I call it a. fluid heater.

By the termfluid heater, is meant, a heater of uid such as water, and/or vapour, or steam in a steam generating apparatus or its equivalent,

said fluid to be heated comprising the lquidas rst entering the system and/or the liquid asv rst entering the system recirculated in the heater and/or the liquid from another portion of the apparatus circulated in the heater.

I have found that a fluid heater of saidnew type to satisfactorily meet all conditions of operation of'its tubes Used with my supercharged high speed steam generators, may be built and voper-- ated as follows.

The heating surface used in the fluid heater may be made pof a tube or group of tubes arranged a's desired.

The said heating surface may be exposed to:

radiant heat, convection heat, and/or a combination 0f both. .A

A connection for input of feed water from the feed pump is made to the `tube or tubes of the viiuid heater for entrance `of feed vwater to inlet ends. v

The discharge ends of thetubes of the fluid heater` are connected directly to the remaining part of the steam generating apparatus above or below thewater level or indirectly to either point by means of a header or headers, or Waterieser-- voir arrangement', or the .'fiuid heater may be discharged into the water wall tubing on the discharge side of the circulating pump. l

If the main steam generating apparatus uses a forced circulation means with recirculation, such as a circulating pump, and `if `weight and space are of primary importance limiting the number of pumps used to a minimum; then-the fluid heater preferably has a second connection or c rossfconnection, from the discharge end of "said circulating pump to the inlet end of the uid heater, arranged to permit recirculation of the water in the fluid heater in addition to the recirculation of the water in the other part of the steam generating apparatus.

This second connection from the discharge end of said circulating pump, to the inlet oi said uid heater is controlled by a valve or valves or other regulating means for stopping, starting or adjusting the amount of the flow of water from said' l in its circuit of the proper size for the purpose.

This separatepump or pumps has its and/or their discharge end connected to the inlet ofthe fluid heater. 4

The suction end of said separate pump may fluid heater if it is arranged so that the suction lead will receive some or all of the water discharged from the fluid heater prior to some ofsaid water discharging on over into the' main steam generating apparatus, if there is, under the operating condition of the fluid heater atthe time, any excess of water to be sent to the main steam generating apparatus over and above that necessary for use in giving recirculation to the fluid heater.

i When the separate pump is connected in this way the temperature of the water'recirculated for a short period of time is of lower temperature than the water in the main steam generator with a consequent advantage of greater heat differential of the fluid and the heater heating surface.

The suction end of said separate pump 60 may,

however, be connected directly with the water level cylinder 8, by opening valve 86A and closing valve 85A and the discharge of the fluid heater tubes 53, led directly to the Water 1evel cylinder 8, by closing valve 82, and opening valve 90A or by opening valve 82,and valve 88 closing valve 89A, the discharge may be indirect.

In al1 cases the discharge of said separate circulating pump 60, leading to the inlet end f the fluid heater tube 53, has a valve 'I6 and/or 15 or other regulating means on the discharge line or control of the pump for starting, stopping, or adjusting the amount of flow of water formV the separate circulating pump 60, to the inlet .of the uid heater tubes 53.

This starting, stopping or adjusting of the amountof water from the separate circulating pump 60 to the inlet of the fluid heater tubes 53, may be mainly accomplished by starting, stopping, or adjusting the speed of the separate circulating pump SII or by means of a valve 16., and/or 15, if a valve is used, or by a combination of means. Regardless of whether a main circulating pump 26, of the steam generating apparatus is used to discharge to the uid heater tubes 53, or a separate pumpli. is used for this purpose or both. or `whether the suction of the ing means' from the discharge of said pump to the fluid heater or the pumps are started, stopped or theirspeed adjusted or whether they are operated in combination with a valve or not; the ow from the pump or pumps to the fluid heater is always adjusted to` meet the following conditions:

There is preferably no flow when the fluid heater has sumcient feed water or other water in it to protect it and to insure its proper operation without use of recirculat-ing water even with the feed valve closed. There should aways be avail,-

able suicient ow from the circulating pump to the fluid heaterrto protect the fluid heater tubes 53 and insure their proper operation if such flow is required from the recirculation means. This flow to occur in addition to the iiow from the feed pump I1 Whenever necessary regardless of whether the feed valve I9 is partially or fully connect directlywith the discharge end of the opened, and regardless of the rate of input of the feed pump or the height o f the water level.

The operation of the control means of the flow to the fluid heater from the pump or pumps used for recirculation whether by valve or speed regulation of the pump o r other means including by-passing, can be obtained in a number of ways.

The control of the valve, pump speed, by-passing, or other means is preferably operated by a thermostat control on the fluid heater tube or tubes usually at or near the outlet of the tube.

The control of the valve, pump speed, by-passing or other means can be operated, by the degree of opening or closing of the lby-pass feed valve, or by the water level regulator operating the control valve, to open the control valve Iwhen it opens the by-pass feed valve or the reverse or other control means may be used,l causing said flow to increase as it opens the by-pass feed valve and said flow to decrease as it closes the by-pass feed valve.

- The control of the flow control apparatus may be operated by thespeed of the feed pump or the speed of the auxiliary turbine driving the air and/or oil to the combustion chamber, or it may be operated from the automatic combustion control device. There might `be a connection `to the throttle to cover certain load conditions or periods or f there might be a connection acting on the flow of the feed or the flow of the steam in the main steam line. Control of the flow from the cross connection may even be by hand by opening the cross connection and regulating the same for a given load, whenever the feed valve is regulated v byliand.A v

Any means which willprotect and insure proper operation of the fluid heater tubes, may

be used whether it acts directly or in the case of the thermostat control on the fluid' heater tubes, or indirectlyl by action from, for instance, the automatic combustion control or by a com bination of both.

' pump used has va connection to the fluid heaterf4 or to the .main steam generating apparatus or In the fluid heater, I preferably place pressure drop devices 35B in each uuid heater tube, to be coordinated with the amount of water circulated, as disclosed in my co-pending applications which have matured into Patents Nos. 2,201,616, 2,201,617, and 2,201,618, of May 21, 1940. 1

Although if the heat load on the uid heater is suiilciently low the fluid heater may be used without pressure drop devices on certain types of steam generating apparatus. Itis not intended to confine the use of this fluid heating apparatus to any particular type of steam generating apparatus. It may be applied to any type of steam i 'generating apparatus or fluid heatingand/or vaauxiliary turbine 6 which I ply and the oil supply.

por generating apparatus.

Further, by "addingf a pump for recirculation l with proper control valves, suction and discharge leads as described, for my fluid heater, in my present invention, present day economizers may generator circulating pump 2B to theinlet of the uid heater.

The cross connection 13A connects to the inlet of the uid heater tube 53 4through the intermediary of the feed stop and check valve 20.

v The cross connection has two automatic valves 15 be converted to iluid heaters and used Las such in accordance with my present invention.

In my present invention my pressure drop device 35B is preferably at or near the outlet end of each tube of the steam generating apparatus when the steam generating apparatus is to be exposed to extreme heat loads. When the steam generating apparatus is not to be exposed 'to extreme heat loads, but operates at and 16 on a by-pass around the valve.

The fluid heater tubes 53 discharge directly into the water level cylinder 8 above the water other automatic .level of the steam generator apparatus.

When the steam generating system is to be j used for extreme heat loads a pressureY drop defairly constant load primarily for high emciency then Ipreferably add a pressure drop device at or near the inlet end of each tube.

Inv my uid heater apparatus as shown in my present invention the apparatus is built andy operated as follows: when preferably used with a means for forced circulation on the boiler.

Heating surface in the form of severaltubes 53.15 placed in the flow of the convection gases.` The feedv water connection is arranged to deliver water directly from the feed pump I1 into each of these tubes of the fluid heater, via the feed stop and check valve.

The ends of the tubes 530i thefluid heater are arranged in a compact group parallel to each other and secured in a disc 62B which in turn, ts directly into the feedline discharge I8. I Feed flowing in this line I8 will be driven by the pump directly into each fluid heater tube, but said flow striking the at disc where it enters the uid heater tubes would be disrupted. To prevent this. streamlining at the entrance of the Vtube is resorted to, by placing a cone 63A in the feed line with its apex in the center of the feed line pointing toward the iow of the feed approaching it, and its base equal to the diameter of the disc in which the uid heater tubes are secured andsaid base resting on, and is secured to said disc 62B also the diameter of the base of the cone equals the inside diameter of the feed line. The cone has holesin it from its apex to its base, said holes being of inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of each iiuid heater tube 53 and leading directly thereto. l y

With thisarrangement the feedfiow strikes the apex point of the cone 63A and is evenly distributed in a smooth fluid ow down each tube 53 of the fluid heater.

'Ihe feed pump I1 is connected directly to the also drives the air sup-v The speed of this auxiliary turbine is controlled by the automatic combustion control 10 to give the proper air supply for combustion for any given load, but the `size and speed of the Afeed pump I1 when directly connected to this auxiliary turbine 5 is vdesigned to make available at least. ample vfeed water for protection and proper operation ofthe fluid heater tubes 53 at eachload or rate of speed required for delivering proper' air for the given combustion condition of said load. The amount of water actually delivered however, by the .feed pump I1 into the fluid heater tube 53 is controlled by a by-pass arrangement onthe. feed vpump l1 said by-pass ISA being controlled by a valve I9 operated by the waterlevel regulation device 2|. A cross connection controlled by automatic valve 15 and 1 5 is made from the discharge. of thev steam vice 35B is positioned in the outer end of each i'iuid heater vtube 53. Just beyond this pressure drop-device 35B there is located at the outlet end of each tube 53 and individual mechanical means 66 for separating the water dischargedffrdm any steam that may have been formed Yinlthe tube.

This new method of a mechanical meansf-for separation of steam and Water from -eachfindividual tube, as it is discharged therefrom isimportant. By immediate separation action on the4 volume of steam and water coming from a single tube, the volume and resulting velocities to be Y handled by the separating device is much smaller than when attempting to separate the output of a group of tubes and the separation device can be designed to act more effectively ifA there is one for each tube instead of one for a 'group of tubes. Further, in the case of the presentinvention, the pressure drop devices at the outlet of each tube 53 are so designed that with the pressure drop effect, they give a preliminary breaking up of steam bubbles and separation of steam and water as they `discharge from the tube and this preliminary separating action is immediately augmented by the individual separating device 66 for each tube 53 jus't beyond the outlet pressure drop device.

Additional means for separatori of steam and water dscharged from all the uid heater tubes g 53 is further provided at their points of discharge said separationmeans 61 and 68 acting as a common device foreach group of tubes as distinct from Athe individual separating device in each tube. A still further separation of any steam mixed with the water from the fluid heater occurs when steam from the huid heater passes.

through the main separator' 69 in the water level cylinder 8 to'go to the superheater 5|. l When Y the'steam generating system is not4 to be used for extreme heat loads a pressure drop device .35A is added to or near the inlet end of veach tube 53 in `addition A,to the pressure drop device 35B already placed at the outlet end of each tube.

One automatic valve 15 in the cross connection 13A ofthe steam generator circulating pump' Adischarge to the fluid heater is operated rst `by -15 only when the fluid heater tube or steam temperature therein is at or below thel temperature of saturated steam in the system; As a result this control protects the fluid'heater tubes 5l from lack of waterregardless of the height of I'his is accomplished by the action of the sec-` ond automatic valve 16 lay-passed around the first valve 15 with thermostat control in the cross connection 13A.

This valve is operatedprimarily by the automatic Acombustion control apparatus 10 which opens valve 16 with increase in heat load demand and closes it with decrease in heat load demands,

the amount of opening and closing at each heat' load being determined from the test of the operation of the steam generating apparatus, Vand the valve setting made in accordance with requirements of the fluid heater at each of said heat load demands found from test.

The setting of this valve moved by the auto matic combustion control, is modified by the action of the automatic water level regulating valve I9. That is for any given heat load settingfif the use-of my waterwall tubes 34, in combustion chamber |66, my superheater tubes I, in combustion chamber |06, my iiuid heater tubes 53,

4in convection gas passage `III, and my spiral 5 cross flow air preheater with burnt gas tubes 65 the water level regulating valve I9 and by-pass a ISA is closing a certain amount, it will move the lever point of the lever arm of the automatic combustion controldevice 10, acting on the bypass valve 16 in the cross connection 13A, there- `by closing the by-pa-ss valve 16 a certain amount,

so that less water will be recirculated at the,4

given heat load as more water is made available from the feed pump I1 and water level regulating device 24 if this water level regulating valve I9 is opening a certain amount it will `move the lever point of the lever arm of the automatic combustion control device 1I), acting on the bypass valve 16, in the cross connection 13A so that more Water will be recirculated at the given heat load as less water is made available from the feed pump I1 and waterlevel regulating device 24. .This setting on the action of the water level regulating device 24 to modify the setting made by the combustion control device 10, is made from test at each heat load and the combined result of the said two settings at test is arranged to provide forced circulating of water, positively delivered into each tube of the I fluid heater co-ordinated with pressure drop device, suflicient. to insure proper operation of said tubes at each heat load imposed on said tube, regardless of the action of the feed water level regulating valve and with a minimum of water used Iin recirculation to accomplish this purpose.

In some designs the master combustion con-V trol is not used 'to augment the action of control valve 16. The control valve 86 in some designs is connected directly with water level regulator I9 opening and closing with by-passvalve I9 without connection to the niaster combustion control rod 12. In some designs control valve 16 is not used, the cross connection 13 being opened by thermostat valve 15.

Method of operation A preferred embodiment of'this invention is` and air passage IIS,

All piping,'valves, auxiliaries and controlsare shown for proper operation of my heat transfer surfaces together with the steam generator water level cylinder 8 for maintaining a water level in the system, a suction head for the circulation pump and a source of reserve power.. V

The 'main steam turbine III receives steam from -the steam generator l exhausting tomain condenser iI. 'Ihe auxiliary turbine 6 drives on its shaft the air supercharger 5. condensate pump I6 feed pump I1 circulating pump 26 and oil pump 21. l

A master combustion controller 1D operates all main controls to maintain a constant boiler ressure and to supply the boiler I with the nece sary quantities of air, oil, feed water and circulating water for the properoperation of its heat transfer surfaces and to meet the various load demands. y

The speed of the auxiliary turbine 6 is controlled by the master controller'10 to deliver the proper quantity of air.

The oil pump 21 and boiler circulating pump 26 have by-passes with control valves, operated bythe master controller 10 to deliver the proper" quantity of oil and circulating water as the auxiliary turbine speed lis changed to meet the requirements for combustion.

The condensate pump I6 and feed pump I1 have a by-pass ISA with control valve I9 operated by a water level regulator 24 on the water level cylinder 8 to maintain a water level in the system. l

The boiler circulating pump 26 has a cross connection 13 tothe feed inlet with control valve 16 operated by the master controller 16 to aug- `ment thesupply of water for the fluid heater as the heat load increases.V

The opening and closing of cross connection control valve 16 is modified by the opening and closing of the feedA water level regulator valve I3 so that when one valve is closing the other valve isclosing. This eliminates the use of unnecessary quantities of heated water for recirculation in the fluid heater as changes in load occur.

The control valve 16 on cross connection 13 has a by-pass 14 with thermostat operated control follows:

valve 15. Thermostat control valve 15 is operated by a thermostat device 11 on the outlet end of a fluid heater tube 53. Whenever said tube 53 or the steam therein goes above the saturated temperature of the steam in the boiler thermostat element 11 opens valve 15 in by-pass 14 to protect the fluid heater tubes 53.

'The general operation of the power unit is as Starting` with a water highly superheated and passes to the main turlevel in the water level cylinder 8 water is sent by-the circulating pump bine I0 to main condenser Il also to auxiliary turbine 6 and then to main condenser Il.

Condensate from main condenser I I goes to feed water tank I5.

Starting with the feed -water in feed water tank I this, water is picked up by 'condensate pump I 6 and sentto feed pump l1. The feed pump l1,

valve 16 4actuated by the master combustion control lil;` supply' water for recirculation in the fluid heater tubes 53 when necessary for protection and proper operation`*of the fluid heater tubes, independent of the water level at different load demands.

The feed water, and recirculation water in the fluid heater tube 53 together Awith any steam `formed is discharged into the water level cylinder 8 where the water and steam, if any, is separated. The steam going to the superheater tube 5| and the water going to the water level in water level cylinder B to be used for maintaining a water level, for recirculation and for formation of more steam.

I claim: 1

1. The method of protecting an economizer in a steam generator mbodying steam generating tubes and an economizer with forced recirculav tion of steam. in the steam generator tubes, by connecting the forced recirculation system to the economizer in response to thermal conditions at the outlet end of the economizer.

2.A The 'method of protecting an economizer in a'steam ,generator embodying steam generating tubes and an economizer with forced 'recirculav tion of water in the steam generator tubes, by

a by-pass connection extendingbetween the output sides of said pumps and across the input ends of said tubes, a flow controlling device in said by-p'ass connection, and means controlled by the thermal condition of the fluid in the feed water preheater tube for operating said device to connect said circulating pump with said feed water preheater tube.

6. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a. steam generating tube, a feed water preheater tube, a circulating pump for forcing water into said steam generating tube, a feed pump for forcing water into said feed Awater preheater tube,

a by-pass connection extending between the output sides of said pumps and across the4 input ends of said tubes, a iiow controlling device inl said by-pass connection, and thermostatic means controlled by the temperature of the uid in the feed water preheater tube for operating said device to connect said circulating pump with said feed-water preheater tube.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a steam generating tube, a feed water preheater tube, a circulating pump for forcing Water into said steam generating tube, a feed pump for forcing water into said feed Water preheater tube, ahy-pass connection extending between the output 'sides of said pumps and across the input ends of said tubes, a valve in said by-pass connection, and thermally controlled means near the outlet end of said feed water preheater tube for operating said valve to connect said circulating pump with said feed water preheater tube upon the imminence of danger to said feed water pre-` heater tube. y A

8. Steam generating plant comprising a steam generating circuit in which the Water being evapconnecting the forced recirculation system to the economizer in responsev to a predetermined temperature of the fluids in said economizer signifying 'the necessity for a supplemental supply J' heater, a device controlling the flow of feed in of water to said economizer from said recirculation system.' i

3. A steam generator comprising steam generating tubes, an economizer, a water circulating pump arranged to give a forced water circulation through the steam generating tubes, a by- -pass connection between 4the water circulating pump' and the inlet of the economizer, a valve in said by-pass connection, and means responsive to the thermal condition of the economizer for controlling said valve.

4. In`an apparatus of the class described,a steam generating tube, a feed water preheater tube, a circulating pump forforcing water Vinto said feedV water preheater tube, a by-pass connection extendingbetween the youtput sides of said pumps and across the input ends of said tubes, a flow controlling device in said by-pass connection, and thermally operated means influenced by the contents of the feed Waterpreheater tube controlling said device for connecting at times said circulating pump with said feed water preheater tube.

5.. In an apparatus of thegclass described1,a steam generating tube, a feed water preheater tube, a circulating pump for forcing water into said steam generating tube, a feed pump for orated is circulated by a positively acting circulating means, a feed Water preheater con-- nected to discharge into said circuit the feed water after being heated in said preheater, a connection between the discharge of said circulating means and the water inlet side of the preheater,

a flow controlling device in said connection, means for conducting feed water to said presaid conducting means, means connected to said devices for actuating said flow controlling de#- vice in said connection in a predetermined rela-A tion to the operation of said device controlling the flow of feed to said preheater, a second connection between the discharge of said circulating means' and the water inlet side of the preheater, a second ow controlling device in said last mentioned connection, and means controlled by the condition of the fluid in the feed water preheater I for operating said. second flow controlling device. 9. Steam generating plant comprising a. steam generating circuit in which the water being evapforcing water into said feed water preheater tube,

orated is circulated by a positively acting circulating means, a feed water preheater connected to-discharge into said circuit the feed water after being heated in said preheater, a connection between the discharge of said circulating means and the water inlet side of the preheater, a flow controlling device in said connection,- means for conducting feed water'to said preheater, a de-l vice controlling the flow of feed in said conducting means, vmeans for actuating .said flow controlling device in said connection, said actuated means being connected to and being'arranged.

in such relation to the operation of said device controlling the ow of feed lwater to said preheater that flow of circulating water is caused through said connection to said preheater in inverse relation to the ow of feed-water to said preheater, a second connection between the discharge of said circulating means and the water inlet side of the preheater, al second flow controlling device in said last mentioned connection, and thermally controlled means responsive to the condition of the iiuid in the feed water preheater for operating said second ling device.

10. Steam generating plant comprising a steam generating circuit in which the water being evaporated is' positively circulated, a feed water preheater connected to discharge into said circuit the feed water after passingthrough said preilow controlheater, means for causing water from said circuit to flow through saidpreheater, means actuated in accordance with variations in the volume of water within said steam generating circuit and arranged to vary, constantly in direct relation to variations in said volume, the flow of water from said circuit through said preheater, and additional means actuated in response to predetermined thermai conditions of the I iuid flow through said preheater for causing additional ,water to be supplied to said preheater from the positively circulated steam generating circuit.

WALTER DOUGLAS LA MoN'r. 

